Videogame system for creating simulated comic book game

Abstract

A videogame system is provided in which the audiovisual presentation is designed to simulate the episodic nature of a comic book page. The presentation is defined by distinct panels sequentially arranged to form a page layout, the panel limits player-controlled character play to an active panel in which the character must achieve predetermined tasks before he is allowed to move forward in the sequential arrangement of panels to create the story. A dialogue system is also provided for simulating speech balloons to convey emotion, effects and assist in the story-telling nature of the game. Graphical effects are provided to enhance the comic book medium simulation such as torn paper and a cartoonist's hand. In order to provide variety, there may be alternate routes through the panel sequences.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A videogame system for playing a game based upon a simulated comic book page having a player-controlled character and a story comprising: videogame program source containing game data and game instructions for use by a system controller to generate an audiovisual presentation which simulates a comic book page;   a player-operated input device for providing input signals to control movements of the player-controlled character; and   a system controller, including a game microprocessor for executing a videogame program and a video display processor coupled to the game microprocessor and a video random access memory, coupled to the video display processor, for storing data used in generating a video display, for executing the game data and game instructions to provide a videogame audiovisual presentation on a video display, the audiovisual presentation comprising a plurality of distinct panels separated by panel breaks, the plurality of panels are arranged sequentially to form a page layout, each panel representing boundaries in space and time and each panel having predetermined tasks for performance by the player-controlled player, the sequential order of the plurality of panels determined responsive to a predefined set of game rules and responsive to the player-operated input device.   
     
     
       2. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein the audiovisual presentation further comprises simulated speech balloons which convey emotion, story information or text effects. 
     
     
       3. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein the system controller only permits the player-controlled character to move forward in the panel sequence and does not permit the player-controlled character to revisit panels previously visited. 
     
     
       4. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the panels of the simulated comic book page are selected to simulate an actual printed comic book page. 
     
     
       5. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein the audiovisual game presentation further comprises graphical character animations which simulate a paper nature of the comic book simulation. 
     
     
       6. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein the system controller permits the player to select among multiple routes for the player-controlled character to allow for advancement of the panel sequence. 
     
     
       7. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of panels contains graphical character items which the player-controlled character can collect in one frame and use in subsequent frames. 
     
     
       8. The videogame system of claim 1 wherein the system controller awards, tracks and causes an audiovisual presentation of the player-earned points based upon a player's performance of predetermined player tasks. 
     
     
       9. A method of playing a game based upon a simulated comic book page using a videogame program source, video display, controller and player input device combined to provide a videogame system which method comprises the steps of: a) providing (i) videogame program source containing game data and game instructions for use by a system controller to generate an audiovisual presentation which simulates a comic book page; (ii) a player operated input device for providing input signals for controlling movements of a player-controlled character; and, (iii) a system controller, including a game microprocessor for executing the game data and game instructions and a video display processor coupled to the game microprocessor and a video random access memory, coupled to the video display processor for storing data used in generating a video display, for executing the game data and game instructions to provide a videogame audiovisual presentation on a video display, the audiovisual presentation comprising a plurality of distinct panels separated by panel breaks, the plurality of panels are arranged sequentially to form a page layout, each panel representing boundaries in space and time and each panel having predetermined tasks for performance by the player-controlled player, a sequential order of the panels determined responsive to a predefined set of game rules and responsive to the player operated input device;   b) starting the comic book story simulation with the player-controlled character in a first panel of the panel sequence;   c) controlling movements of the player-controlled character to perform predetermined tasks in each of the plurality of panels using the player input device;   d) causing the player-controlled character to move from one panel to next panel in the panel sequence using the player input device; and   e) simulating an actual comic book story by causing the player-controlled character to play through the panel sequence.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the audiovisual presentation further comprises simulated speech balloons which convey emotion, story information or text effects. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for operating a videogame, the videogame being based on a comic book motif, wherein a player manipulates a character of a story through a series of graphical panels designed to simulate cartoon panels of a comic book, the apparatus comprising: a) a player-operated input device for providing input signals to the apparatus to specify activities of the character;   b) a display system for displaying a graphical image; and   c) a controller, receiving the input signals from the input device, the controller (i) representing in a memory system one or more simulated pages of a comic book, each simulated page including a plurality of the graphical panels laid out in a predetermined arrangement, (ii) including in a designated one of the graphical panels a graphical representation of the character, the graphical representation being generated in accordance with the activities specified by the input signals, (iii) extracting from the simulated pages the graphical image for display in the display system, the graphical image including the designated graphical panel and selected portions of graphical panels adjacent, in accordance with the predetermined arrangement, the designated graphical panel.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus for operating a video game as in claim 11, wherein said controller constrains manipulation of said character through said graphical panels to one of a plurality of predetermined paths, each predetermined path defining a sequence of traversal through said graphical panels. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for operating a video game as in claim 12, wherein each of the predetermined paths is directed such that manipulation of the character along the predetermined path is required to follow a predetermined direction of traversal. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for operating a videogame as in claim 11, wherein said activities include simulated combat and strategic tasks, said controller evaluating said input signals in accordance to a predetermined set of rules governing said simulated combat and strategic tasks to select a location for said designated graphical panel and to determine said graphical representation of said character. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for operating a video game as in claim 11, wherein the controller further (i) assigns game characters to each of the graphical panels, and (ii) selects a graphical representation from a predetermined set of graphical representations for each game character, and includes the graphical representation in the graphical image panel. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus for operating a video game as in claim 15, wherein the controller further includes in the graphical image, for the game characters assigned to a designated panel, graphical representations of expression, including speech, emotions and thoughts. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the controller generates in the image a graphical representation showing a tear in the simulated page. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said controller generates in said image a graphical representation showing said simulated page burning. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the controller associates with the game character, data which represents items collected in the graphical panels, in response to the input signals, the item data including a numerical score for evaluating the skill of the player. 
     
     
       20. A method for operating a videogame, the videogame being based on a comic book motif, wherein a player manipulates a character of a story through a series of graphical panels designed to simulate cartoon panels of a comic book, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving input from an input device operated by the player, the input signals specifying activities of the character;   (b) representing in a memory system one or more simulated pages of a comic book, each simulated page including a plurality of the graphical panels laid out in a predetermined arrangement;   (c) including a designated one of the graphical panels is a graphical representation being generated in accordance with said activities specified by the input signals;   (d) extracting from the simulated pages a graphical image, the graphical image including said designated graphical panel and selected portions of graphical panels adjacent, in accordance with the predetermined arrangement, the graphical panel, and   (e) displaying the graphical image in a video display.   
     
     
       21. A method for operating a video game as in claim 20, further comprising the step of constraining a manipulation of the character through the graphical panels to one of a plurality of predetermined paths, each predetermined path defining a sequence of traversal through the graphical panels. 
     
     
       22. A method for operating a video game as in claim 21, wherein each of the predetermined paths is directed such that manipulation of the character along the predetermined path is required to follow a predetermined direction of traversal. 
     
     
       23. A method for operating a videogame as in claim 20, wherein said activities include simulated combat and strategic tasks, said method further comprising the step of evaluating said input signals in accordance to a predetermined set of rules governing said simulated combat and strategic tasks to select a location for said designated graphical panel and to determine said graphical representation of said character. 
     
     
       24. A method for operating a videogame as in claim 20, further comprising the steps of: (a) assigning game characters to each of the graphical panels, and   (b) selecting a graphical representation from a predetermined set of graphical representations for each game character, and including the graphical representation in the graphical image panel.   
     
     
       25. A method for operating a videogame as in claim 24, further comprising the step of including in the graphical image, for the game characters assigned to the designated panel, graphical representation of expressions, including speech, emotions and thoughts. 
     
     
       26. A method as in claim 20, further comprising the step of generating in the image a graphical representation showing a tear in the simulated page. 
     
     
       27. A method as in claim 20, further comprising the step of associating with the character, data which represents items collected in the graphical panels, in response to the input signals, the item data including a numerical score for evaluating a skill of the player.